Phonographic apparatus



Sept. 2, 1941. 5. c. CONRAD 2,254,839

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. :51, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I N I Jrwenfor Edward Qrzrud Sept. 1941- E. c. CONRAD 2,254,833

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1959 s Sheets-Shet 2 Zinnentor Edwwdf @izrad Gttomeg Sept. 2, 1941.

4 E. c. CO NRAD PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 31, 1939 3 nventor G narneg ord.

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 ATENT 1 PHONOGRAPHICAPPARATUS Edward C. Conrad, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor'to Radio Corporation oi America, a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 1939, Serial No. 253,920

8 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographic apparatus of the type use for recording sound on records adapted to be played back immediately after recording, and particularly to the mounting and feeding mechanisms for the recording and reproducing device.

In apparatus of this type which records on disc or cylindrical record blanks, the recording head is usually fed across the record by means of a I feed screw and is arranged to be disengaged from the feed screw when it is desired to either advance or back up the recording head relative to the recording point on the record. Generally, only'one hand of theoperator is free for the manipulation of the cutter head, the other being usually employed 'to hold a microphone or the like which picks up the sound to be recorded. In most recorders known heretofore, the recorder head feeding and latching mechanisms are so arranged that it is extremely diflicult, if not altogether impossible, to manipulate the recorder head properly with but one hand.

The primary object of my invention, therefore, is to provide improved mechanism of the type under consideration which can be readily manipulated by one hand for the quick adjustment of the recorder head relative to the record.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism of the character set forth in which the recorder head becomes automatically disengaged from the feed screw when raised that, in one position, it engages the feed screw of the mechanism, and in another position engases a detent which holds it out of feed screw engaging position. When in latched position, the recorder head and its mounting may be moved asv a unit with the carriage and the latch lever longitudinally along the feed screw in either direction, so that any desired point on the record may be selected forrecording or for reproduction, as the case may be. To return the recording head into engagement with the record and at the same time effect automatic engagement of the feed lever with the feed screw, it is merely necessary to free the lever from the detent and permit the recorder to move down to recording position. This can be effected easily with the thumb and forefinger of one hand, leaving the other hand at all times free to hold the microphone, script', etc. The novel features that I consider-characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention -itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of one embodifrom recording ,position' tO,-: remain so when latched in non-recording, oridie, position.

Another difficulty which encountered with many ofithe prior art recording machines is that the recording head. when mounted, hasia fixed relation to the record. Thus, as the recording. needle wears .and needs resharpening. no co m v pensationcan be made'for the shortened needle. Furthermore, j in' some cases,- it is desirable to vary the depth of cut or to vary the angular relation between the cutter head and the rec- It is, accordingly, object of my invention to provide an improved mounting for the recorder whereby such adjustments may be made readily.

According to my invention, the recorder is mounted on its carriage by means of an eccentric which may be turned in its bearings to provide desired vertical as well as angular adjustment of the recorder relative to the record. The carriage has pivotally mounted thereon a single another important III-J11 ofFigurZ.

ment thereof, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich I Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention, 1 m

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, certain parts being shown in section fe'r the'sake-o fclear-g. ness, Figure 53 is a detail] view taken on the ride i Figure-'4 is: a side view of'the recorder and its mounting as viewed'from the Figure ,5; is a similar view but show ing the re corder head latched in idle position where it is free to be moved across the record,

Referring more particularly to the drawings, f

wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown a frame member I having one end pivotally supported by a pair of conical bearings 3 for swingcombined feed and latching lever so arranged 55 ing movementin a vertical plane. The bearings planeof line [IV-JV of Figure 2 and showing; the "*recorder head in recording position,

3 are her 35 are a pair of wardly extending pin is received within a bushing I, in turn carried by a bearing 3 which is fixed to a motor board 5. The pin 511 permits rotation of the frame I in a horizontal plane and,

in connection with the pivot pins or bearings 3,

enables the frame ment.

Fixed to the motor board ii is a motor l3 which drives a spindle i5 having driving engagement with a turntable II on which a record R is supported. The upper end i5a, of the spindle i5 is squared for reception in the square opening of a disc i9 which is secured to a shaft 2| mounted for rotation in the frame member and having a reduced portion 2|a to which is secured a gear 23. Rotatably carried by the frame I is a feed screw 25 to which is secured a worm 21 in mesh with the gear 2|. It will beapparent, therefore, that power may be transmitted from the motor i3 to the feed screw 25 through the spindle 5, disc i9, shaft 2i, gear 23, and worm 21.

l to partake of universal move- Slidably and pivotally carried on the feed' screw 25 is a carriage 29 to which is pivoted a combined feed and latching lever 3|, the lowermost portion of the lever 3| being provided with a half nut 33 adapted to have driving engagement with the feed screw 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The lever 3| is also provided with a lateral extension 3 la terminating in an offset toe 3|b which is adapted to be received by a correspondingly formed slot 34 in the frame. i, the slot 34 serving as a detent to latch thelever 3| when the latter is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5.

The carriage 29 has a pair of downwardly extending arms 29a terminating in aligned rings 2% which rotatably receive a bearing member 35 having a hollow, cut-away, intermediate portion 35a and solid end portions 35b each formed with a diametrically extending slot 350. Mounted eccentrically on the end portions 35b of the memaligned conically-tipped bearing screws 31 which pivotally support a cradle 39 to which is secured a sound translating device 4| that may be either a recorder, a reproducer or a combined recorder and reproducer, the device 4| being provided with a suitable needle 43 for cooperation with the record R. A coil spring 45 having one end secured to the device 4| and the other end to an adjustable screw 41 carried by the carriage 29 serves to carried by a yoke 5 which has a down-' 25 and the frame I in either direction and to any desired position. To return the sound translating device to operative position on the record, the finger piece 49 and the lever 3| are grasped with the thumb and forefinger and pressed together to release the toe 3|b from the detent 34, whereupon the unit is free to be returned to the position shown in Fig. 4. During such return, the spring 5| will automatically force the half nut 33 back into engagement with the feed screw 25.

In some cases, it may be desired to adjust the device 4| vertically or angulariy with respect to the surface of the record R, as when it is desired to vary the depth of cut of the needle or cutter 43, or to compensate for shortening of the cutter 43 when it has been sharpened. To do this, a.thumb screw 53 on one of the bearing rings 2% is loosened and, by means of a screw driver inserted into one of the slots 350, the bearing member 35 may be rotated in either direction, preferably within the limits determined by a pin 55 extending into a slot 51 in one of the end portions 35b of the member 35. It will be obvious that, since the bearing screws 31 are eccentrieally mounted on the ends 35b, they will be raised or lowered slightly as the member 35 is rotated, depending upon the direction of rotation. When, finally, the desired adjustment is obtained, the thumb screw 53 may be tightened again to releasably lock the device 4| in adjusted position.

From the foregoing description,'it will be apparent that I have provided a simplified mounting and feed mechanism for recorders and the counterbalance the weight of the-sound transv lating device 4| on the record R.

In operation, the parts are as shown in Fig. 4 with the needle 43 in contact with the surface of the record R and the half nut 33 in engagement with the feed screw 25. When it is desired to move the device 4| to the idle position shown in Fig.1 5, it is merely necessary to engage the finger piece 49 on the carriage 29 and push upwardly whereby th'e'device 4|, its cradle 39, the carriage 29 and the lever 3| are all swung as a unit on the feed screw 25. The half nut 33 remains in engagement with the feed screw 25 under the influence of a spring ill on the carriage 29 until the toe 3|b strikes the upper portion of the frame I at approximately the point A (Fig. 4) whereupon continued advance of the assembly or unit causes the frame I to effect a like. No doubt, many modifications and changes well within the scope of my invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. I, therefore, desire that my invention shall not be limited except insofar as is made necessary by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

' 1. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a sound translating device, means for feeding said device across a record comprising a driving element and a driven element, means pivotally mounted on said driving element carrying said sound translating device, said driven element being pivotally carried by said last named means for movement into and out of engagement with said, driving element, and means for latching said driven element at will out of engagement with said driving element.

2. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a sound translating device, means for feeding ing element and a driven element, means pivotv ally mounted on said driving element carrying said sound translating device, said last-named means being movable on said driving element to raise said sound translating device away from the record and said driven element being pivotally carried thereby for movement relative to.

said second-named .means into and out of engagement with said driving element, means located in the path of movement of said driven element when moved as a unit with said secondnamed means for effecting disengagement of said driven element from said driving element, and means for latching said unit in position when said sound translating device is raised from the record and said driven element is disengaged from said driving elemen 3. The invention set forth in claim 2 characterized by the addition of means on said secondnamed means constantly tending to bring said driven element into engagement with said driving element. n

4. The invention set forth in claim 2 characterized in that said driving element is constituted by a feed screw and characterized further in that said driven element is constituted by a lever having a half nut on one end thereof for cooperation with said feed screw, said lever having a toe thereon adapted to engage'said latching means to latch said unit.

5. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a feed screw, a carriage pivotally and slidably mounted on said feed screw, a feed lever pivotally carried on saidcarriage and having a half nut thereon adapted to have driving engagement with said feed screw, means constantly urging said lever into position for said half nut to engage said feed screw, on said carriage, and a sound translating device carried by said. cradle.

6. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a frame, a feed screw, 9. carriage pivotally and slidably mounted on said feedscrew, a feed lever pivotally carried on said carriage and have ing a half nut thereon adapted to have driving engagement with said feed a cradle pivotally mounted screw, means cpncarried by said carriage,

bearing elements mounted on said bearing memstantly urging said lever into position for said halt nut to engage said feed screw, a cradle pivotally mounted on said carriage, a sound translating device carried by said cradle, said carriage, cradle, sound translating device and lever being pivotally movable as a unit on said feed screw relative to said frame, and means on said frame for latching said unit in a position where said sound translating device is raised to idle position and said half nut is disengaged from said feed screw whereby said unit is free to be slid longitudinally along said feed screw.

7. In phonographic apparatus, the combination of a feed screw, a carriage pivotally'and slidably mounted on said feed-screw, a feed lever pivotally carried on said carriage and having a half nut thereon adapted to have driving engagement with said feed screw, means constantly urging said lever into position for said half nut to engage said feed screw, a bearing member rotatably a pair of axially aligned her on an axis eccentric to said bearing member,

a cradle pivotally mounted on said bearing ele-' ments, and a sound translating device carried by said cradle. V

8. The invention set forth in claim 7 characterized by the addition of means for locking said bearing member in any predetermined position onsaid carriage. I EDWARD C. CONRAD: 

